Chapter 22
The next day
…
Hiccup awoke groggily after a long restless night. Though he was glad he had finally admitted his feelings to Merida, the situation between them was still largely unsettled. Although he was fairly certain by her actions alone, that she did in fact feel something more for him, he still didn't truly know exactly where he stood. He knew she was surprised by his admission, and perhaps the initial shock is what caused her fears to resurface in the wake of his confession. He only hoped that after she took the time to think things over that she would realize that she had nothing to fear, that they were simply meant to be and no matter what anyone said or did, he would fight for her and he would fight to be with her. If only she would just trust him with her heart, she could rest assured that he would never allow anything to come between them. Hiccup sighed heavily as he sat up from his place beside Toothless. He leaned forward and yawned as he stretched his arms over his head. He turned his eyes to Eret and Fishlegs who were already up and currently sitting by the fire eating their breakfast of roasted wild rabbit. Hiccup quickly strapped his prosthetic leg on and stood up carefully. He then headed over to the camp fire to join his friends. Fish legs smiled up at him when he noticed him sit down on a log across from them.
"Morning chief," Fish greeted.
"Morning Fishlegs," Hiccup yawned again as he spoke. Eret looked up at him and smirked. He furrowed his brow at the sight of his old friend.
"Did you have a rough night Hic," Eret questioned, "you look like you haven't slept a wink." Hiccup rolled his eyes at Eret's comment.
"I just had a lot on my mind," Hiccup replied, "I just couldn't shut my brain off, ya know." Eret nodded in understanding.
"Oh, I know," Eret replied, "I've had many a night like that, especially recently." Eret shot Hiccup a knowing gaze. Hiccup nodded in return.
"Hey don't worry too much about it," Eret replied, "I mean from all that you said, there is no question that Merida feels for you the way you do for her. Hiccup nodded again.
"I'm not that worried," Hiccup replied, "not really. Well, I mean, I am a little worried, but not about Merida. I know she cares for me too. It's everything else I'm worried about."
"Like what exactly," Eret questioned. Hiccup sighed heavily as he thought over Eret's question.
"Like...whether or not her parents will ever accept me," Hiccup replied, "or whether or not the Lords will approve of me, what her people will think if she chooses me. What will her people do when they find out I'm a Viking? Then of course everything else about this mystery has been driving me crazy. That and I keep thinking about everything Merida told me about what she discovered over the past three days."
"Oh yeah, Fish replied, "what exactly did Merida find in the archives? Did she find out what Adag means?" Hiccup nodded his head in reply.
"Actually, she did not find much of anything in the archives," Hiccup replied with a shrug, "but she did discover the meaning of Adag...with a little help from her brothers." Eret turned to Hiccup in curiosity.
"She has brothers," Eret questioned. Hiccup nodded as he turned his eyes to Eret.
"Three as a matter of fact," Hiccup replied, "and from what I gather, they are identical triplets." Eret raised his eyebrows in surprise. He was still very curious about Merida and her family, though he had not divulged his reasons why to anyone. He was still not entirely sure that his suspicions were something he should reveal to the others just yet, if at all. Despite his reluctance to investigate his alleged connection to this place, his curiosity about the royal family only grew the more he found out about them.
"Well," Fish interrupted impatiently, "what did Merida say about Adag?" Eret and Hiccup turned back to Fish in slight amusement. Hiccup chuckled slightly.
"Well, you were right," Hiccup replied looking back and forth between Fish and Eret, "actually you were both right...well sort of anyway." Both Fish and Eret looked back at him questioningly.
"Eret, you said you thought it was another word for Berk," Hiccup reiterated, "and Fishlegs said it sounded like my last name, Haddock."
"So how are we both right exactly," Fish asked.
"Okay so, Dunbroch has an ancient language called Gaelic," Hiccup replied, "Gaelic is sort of like what Old Norse is to Berk."
"Okay," Eret replied, "so are you saying that Adag is Gaelic for Berk then?"
"Close," Hiccup replied, "actually it turns out Adag is the Gaelic word for Haddock."
"Are you kidding me," Fish laughed, "that's crazy, I was totally right." Fish looked over at Eret smugly, "you were close but I was totally right! I knew it sounded like Haddock!" Eret rolled his eyes at Fish's enthusiasm.
"And seeing as though a Haddock has always been chief of Berk," Hiccup continued as he looked back at Eret, "then it's somewhat safe to assume that Adag might refer to both Berk and my family line."
"So, what does that mean exactly, I mean, in regards to the prophecy of Mairead though," Fish questioned, "I mean, was she talking about your family in general...or maybe you specifically?"
"Well Merida says that I'm the first Haddock to set foot in Dunbroch in three hundred years," Hiccup replied, "she's convinced that Mairead"s words must pertain to me." Hiccup sighed slightly as he spoke, giving Eret the impression that he was not entirely set on Merida's conclusion.
"I mean it does make sense. Not only am I the first Haddock to return to Dunbroch, I'm also the last Haddock in my family line...for now anyway. So, it would seem that there really is no other explanation."
"Something tells me you're not exactly convinced that that is the case," Eret replied. He gazed at Hiccup as he crossed his arms over his chest. Hiccup sighed.
"Well, the thing is, even though it really all does make sense," Hiccup replied, "it feels like, I don't know, it just sort of feels off a bit. I can't really explain it, I just can't help but to think that there is something more to the story than that." Eret gazed at Hiccup curiously.
"Like what," Fish questioned curiously.
"Well, just for instance, the dream I had," Hiccup replied, "I mean there is a lot more to it than just Mairead's prophecy, there is still so much of it that I haven't figured out yet, ya know. Like the village itself for one, a-and the people living with dragons, and the tide glider symbol. Honestly, it all sort of gave me the impression that Adag was actually some ancient village in Dunbroch. Now that Merida found out that it actually means Haddock, she believes that the entire prophecy was just about me and my family line. I...I'm just not like a hundred percent convinced that there isn't more to it than that and to be honest if it is really just about me and my family then that just leads me to even more questions than I had before." Eret thought heavily on Hiccup's words.
"Well, maybe you're right, maybe there is more to it than that," Eret suggested, "I mean, what if both are true?" Hiccup furrowed his brow at Eret's suggestion.
"How do you mean exactly," Hiccup questioned.
"Adag is definitely the Gaelic word for Haddock," Eret replied, "but could it be possible that Adag is also a village in Dunbroch?" Hiccup furrowed his brow as he thought carefully over Eret's suggestion.
"Well, I, I guess it's possible," Hiccup replied thoughtfully, "but if that were the case than to which one is Mairead referring?"
"Well, before you said that Berk was an ally of Dunbroch,"Eret replied.
"That's right," Fish replied as he assumed the direction of Eret's train of thought, "in one of the entries in the journal, Mairead said that her father, the king, fought with the chief of Berk previously, it said they were old friends."
"That's right mate," Eret replied, "so it's safe to assume that Berk and Dunbroch were allies long before they came here for their dragon problem." Hiccup nodded as he listened to his friends' suggestions.
"And like you just said," Fish chimed in, "a Haddock has always been chief of Berk."
"Right," Eret agreed, "so isn't it possible that your family in particular has a much longer history in Dunbroch than just the incident between yours and her grandparents?" Hiccup silently pondered Eret's question.
"Maybe they were even associated with a particular village in Dunbroch before they were banished," Fish suggested, "I mean maybe even some Berkans had connections here in Dunbroch, or maybe even families. What if the banishment didn't just separate Hiccup and Mairead, but other families as well? What if Berk and maybe even the Haddock's specifically have family ties to Dunbroch." Hiccup sat for a moment in silence as he thought over Fish's suggestion. He had been completely focused on the relationship between Mairead and Hiccup the first that he had not considered the idea that Berk's ties to Dunbroch could be much broader than he had previously believed.
"Only a Haddock will lead them home," he muttered to himself as Mairead's words once again replayed in his mind. Could this be what Mairead was referring to? Was he not only meant to renew the bond between their clans, but also to reunite the families inadvertently separated by the banishment?
"I guess that could be possible, I-I mean it certainly sounds plausible," Hiccup replied as he thought about it, "but there are still so many details that just don't quite add up. I mean there are still so many loose ends to this whole story."
"What sort of loose ends," Eret asked curiously.
"Well, like the other thing Merida learned from her parents yesterday," Hiccup replied, "apparently all of Dunbroch believes that Berk was wiped out in a dragon raid shortly after they were banished, for one."
"Wait, wait, wait," Fish interrupted, "the people of Dunbroch think that all of Berk was wiped out by dragons?"
"You're kidding right," Eret replied in slight amusement. Hiccup gazed back at Eret with an unamused expression on his face. Eret furrowed his brow in surprise. "Okay you're telling me that they actually believe that the very Vikings that literally rid their land of an entire population of dragons were then defeated and killed off by dragons," Eret questioned skeptically.
"Crazy right," Hiccup replied, "Merida's theory is that her own great, great grandfather, uh Callum I think his name was, might have orchestrated the whole thing in order to keep Mairead for himself.
"Do you really think that this Callum lied on purpose," Eret questioned, "I mean could it have been possible that he was just mistaken or maybe even misinformed?"
"Well, I don't actually know for sure but I'm leaning more toward the idea that it was a deliberate lie," Hiccup replied, "I mean think about it, by marrying Mairead, Callum was set to become the King of Dunbroch; my grandfather would have been a direct threat to his future as King."
"So just lie then and say all of Berk was killed off," Eret questioned, "it just seems a little far-fetched. I mean what was to stop someone from just coming back from Berk and proving him a liar?" Hiccup shrugged.
"Like I said," Hiccup replied, "there is still a lot that doesn't quite add up. Now I'm just speculating here but I think what might have happened is that Callum may have found out about the affair between Hiccup and Mairead; maybe he even told the King and Queen about it, which than could have resulted in the banishment of Berk."
"So, if he managed to have all of Berk banished, why go further and lie about their demise," Fish questioned, "I mean, what would be the point?"
"Because of Mairead," Hiccup replied, "there is no way she would have just given up on her true love simply because he was banished. She would have fought to be with him, maybe she even tried to have her betrothal dissolved and the banishment lifted."
"But if she believed her true love was dead," Fish replied, "she'd have no reason to contest her marriage to Callum."
"Exactly," Hiccup replied, "and not only that, but if Callum lied about Berk's demise, who's to say he didn't also lie about the Berkans to get them banished in the first place." Both Eret and Fish looked at Hiccup in intrigue.
"You may be on to something mate," Eret replied.
"Yeah," Fish chimed in, "this is huge, if you can legitimately prove that Callum lied to get Berk banished then the King will have no choice but to lift the banishment!"
"Well, i-it's still a working theory though," Hiccup replied, "I mean like I said before there are still few things that don't quite add up. Not to mention how difficult it will be to prove."
"Okay, well, what else doesn't add up," Eret questioned.
"Well according to Merida, all the records of Berk being in Dunbroch have been missing for years, even her father could not find anything in all his years of searching," Hiccup explained.
"So," Eret replied.
"So, explain this, the account of Berk in Dunbroch to hunt the dragons is just gone, vanished, practically nonexistent besides the journals of our grandparents," Hiccup went on, "yet the account of Berk's demise is well documented." Both Eret and Fish furrowed their brows in thought as Hiccup spoke.
"It just doesn't make sense, I mean it…it almost seems as though someone purposely removed the records; maybe even destroyed them. But why would someone do that," Hiccup questioned, "unless, of course, they were attempting to hide the truth, or maybe they were trying to cover something up." Both Fish and Eret seemed to think heavily on Hiccup's words.
"Like the truth of Berk's innocence," Fish questioned. Hiccup nodded.
"So, basically you're saying this Callum discovered the affair," Eret concluded, "and to put a stop to it, he exposed the affair, maybe even lied about Hiccup the first's intentions so that the king would banish all of Berk to prevent a scandal?"
"Basically," Hiccup replied, "but maybe the banishment wasn't enough to thwart Mairead from fighting to be with Hiccup. So, Callum took it a step further and lied about Berk being wiped out so she would give up."
"Wow," Fish replied.
"But the other thing that is also throwing me off is my great, great grandfather," Hiccup replied, "it seems like he did the exact same thing in Berk, he hid everything that mentioned Dunbroch. I mean what exactly was Hiccup the first trying to hide?"
"Okay wait, you mean to say that you have reason to believe that your own great, great grandfather was also a part of this massive cover up," Eret questioned curiously. Hiccup nodded.
"I don't know for certain, but I'm definitely beginning to think so," Hiccup replied, "what I can't figure out is why? I can't make sense of it; I mean why would he have ever gone along with it? Why would he knowingly break Mairead's heart that way? Why would he just let Callum get away with such a terrible lie? I mean, if I'm right about this, that means that not only did my great great grandfather know that Callum lied to Mairead about his alleged death, but he actually conspired with him to make her believe the lie."
"Conspired by going along with it," Fish questioned. Hiccup shook his head.
"He might have been more involved than that," Hiccup replied, "I mean I really don't think that after the banishment that Mairead would have just taken Callum's word that Hiccup was dead. I think that the only way she would have ever believed him was if he had legitimate proof. If that's the case than there is no question that Hiccup was working with Callum. Hiccup had to have given Callum the proof he needed to convince Mairead that he was dead. Why would he do that?"
"Unless, maybe he was trying to protect her somehow," Eret suggested, "maybe breaking her heart was the lesser of two evils."
"That's what I thought too," Hiccup replied, "but if Callum was willing to lie, and threaten Mairead, why would Hiccup just go along with that? Why didn't he fight for her, or at the very least try to expose Callum? How could he just look the other way while Callum got everything he wanted? I mean clearly Callum must have been blackmailing Hiccup in some way, whether he knew something or threatened to reveal something or maybe it really was just a threat to hurt Mairead if he didn't comply. I just know that there is something more to the story, something we are clearly missing."
"Don't forget Hic, your grandfather was also banished from Dunbroch at the time," Eret replied, "I mean maybe there was little he could do. He couldn't return and Callum held all the cards it sounds like." Hiccup nodded as he thought over Eret's suggestion. He could feel frustration building in his heart as he thought about what had allegedly transpired between Hiccup the first and Callum. It was as if he could easily put himself in his grandfather's place. He thought about how he felt about Merida. He was not typically one to rely on violence to solve problems but if anyone ever were to threaten Merida in such a way, he would not hesitate to fight for her. He would use whatever force necessary to protect her. He would risk everything for her. He simply could not understand why his grandfather would just give up instead of fighting for Mairead.
"I just don't get it," Hiccup replied, "I mean how could he just give up on her like that after everything they did, and every risk they took to be together, why would he just let her go? If how I felt in my dream about Mairead was truly how my grandfather felt about her; I just can't fathom why he'd just stop fighting. If it were me, I…I'd never stop fighting, a-and I'd never give up, I'd fight for her till my last breath if I had to."
"As would I in his shoes," Eret replied, "but we weren't there, we don't know the situation he was in…maybe, as hard as it was to let her go, he did what he had to do to keep her safe." Hiccup nodded as he pondered Eret's suggestion.
"It's the only explanation really," Hiccup replied thoughtfully, "but it still feels like we are missing something, something that could tie all of this together." Hiccup sighed as he thought more about all Merida had told him.
"What exactly is Merida's take on all this," Eret questioned.
"I haven't technically told her my suspicions yet," Hiccup replied, "I've just been thinking about all of it since last night. I'll talk to her more about everything I've been thinking when she comes by this afternoon."
Dunbroch castle
Merida sat at the breakfast table quietly toying with her food and completely distracted by her thoughts. She paid no mind to her three brothers' antics and barely listened to her father's tales. She sighed heavily. All she could think about was that she still had hours of lessons ahead of her and all she wanted to do was spend more time with Hiccup. As much as she tried to push it to the back of her mind, she kept replaying the moment he'd kissed her in her head. She could practically feel his lips on hers still, they were soft and sweet, familiar and new all at once. It left her with butterflies in her stomach and her heart beat furiously at the memory. She sighed heavily as she tried to push the thoughts of him to the back of her mind. She didn't know how she was going to get through this day.
"Is everything okay dear," Elinor asked noticing her daughter's odd behavior. Merida didn't answer right away.
"Merida," Elinor called.
"Huh," Merida shook her head and looked up as she realized her mother was speaking to her, "what was that mum?"
"Yer awfully distracted dear," Elinor replied, "is everything okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied, trying to hide the blush on her face, "I, uh, I j-just have a lot on my mind is all." Elinor sighed in concern. Even though their relationship was better now, Merida still would fall back to her old habit of not always talking to her mother. After years of misunderstandings, Elinor had learned not to push her daughter. Merida would come to her in time if she couldn't figure it out on her own. But it seemed lately she was more distracted than ever and Elinor could not help but to wonder what was going on with her. More than anything she wished that Merida would just confide in her.
Elinor sighed slightly. Regardless of whatever was troubling Merida, she had yet to break the news to her about the proposal of the Lords and the impending courtship. It was a task she planned to do this morning, but now seemed to be second guessing. But with the Lords now coming within the week, there was no time to put it off any longer. Elinor glanced at her husband in uncertainty for a moment. Fergus nodded his head and gave her a reassuring smile. Elinor sighed once more and turned her attention back to Merida.
"Well," Elinor sighed, "I'm afraid there is something I do need to discuss with ye Merida." Despite her distraction, Merida noticed a twinge of worry in her mother's voice.
"What now mum," Merida questioned. Elinor glanced briefly at Fergus. He nodded reassuringly. Elinor sighed as she turned her attention back to Merida.
"Well, uh, as ye know, Lord Dingwall was here for a few days...not that long ago," Elinor replied.
"Not another dragon sighting I hope," Merida replied as she rolled her eyes.
"No…no, it's nothin' like that," Elinor replied," please just listen Merida, this is of great importance." Merida looked at her mother curiously as her concern began to grow.
"Lord Dingwall, well he, uh, he came as representative of the other clans," Elinor explained, "to discuss the matter of the future of Dunbroch. As it is, the future remains unsettled and the Lords have brought their concerns about that to our attention." Merida furrowed her brow at her mother's words.
"What do ye mean mum," Merida questioned, "what of Dunbroch's future concerns them so?"
"They are concerned that ye have not chosen a suitor yet," Elinor replied, "that a successor to yer father has yet to be named." Merida rolled her eyes and groaned.
"Seriously, why do the Lords seek to control my life," Merida huffed, "I mean is it so terrible that I have yet to choose? What is their rush?"
"Ye must try to understand Merida," Elinor replied, "this has ne'er been done before, no princess has ever been granted the freedom ye have. The Lords are accustomed to their old ways and because of that they've grown impatient."
"Well what do they expect me to do mum," Merida questioned, "I….I want to make the right choice, but it takes time."
"But in these past five years," Elinor continued, "ye have put little effort into makin' yer choice."
"That's because I've had little opportunity Mum," Merida groaned.
"Be that as it may Merida, I urge ye to attempt to see things from the Lords' perspective," Elinor replied, "as a leader ye must learn to see things through yer subjects eyes not just yer own. In the Lords' eyes ye are at the age that ye should at least be betrothed, if not married by now and the future King should be preparing to take the throne."
"What exactly would they have me do mother," Merida questioned, "just choose some random man, with little to no thought at all! All just to ensure a successor is properly prepared to sit on my throne?" Elinor sighed as she tried her best to calmly explain.
"Actually, the Lords have put a bit of thought into this situation," Elinor replied, "and they have proposed a solution."
"A solution," Merida questioned skeptically.
"Aye, it seems the Lords still hope ye will find favor with one of their sons." Merida's heart dropped to her feet with her mother's words. The previous butterflies vanished instantly and became like a hollow pit in her stomach.
"What," Merida cried out, "yer still trying to marry me off to one o' their sons! After everything we've been through!"
"Of course not," Elinor replied firmly, "Yer father and I explained to Lord Dingwall that our decision is final, we'll not go back on our word, that ye may choose for yerself, in yer own time."
"Good," Merida replied, "then there's nothing else to discuss!"
"Not exactly," Elinor replied. Merida groaned in frustration.
"Ye can't be serious," Merida looked to her father desperately, "tell me she's nae serious!"
"Please just hear yer mother out lass," Fergus replied solemnly. Merida could feel her anxiety growing.
"As I said, the Lords have expressed their concern," Elinor continued, "that whoever ye choose not be worthy of the throne, and so they still want yer choice to be one of their sons." Merida was beside herself with frustration.
"What is the point of having my own choice, mother," Merida stood angrily from the table, "why would I choose someone who isn't worthy? Do they really think so little of me?"
"I understand Merida," Elinor replied, "I do...but ye must understand the position of the Lords as well." Merida huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Why must I worry about the position of the Lords," Merida replied, "tis my life they seek to control, why should their position hold more importance than my life?"
"Merida, the Lords don't seek to control yer life, they simply want to ensure that a Scotsman remain on the throne," Elinor replied.
"Well, ye can tell them a Scotsmen will remain on the throne," Merida exclaimed, "ME!" Elinor sighed.
"Merida," Elinor continued, "they only ask that ye allow their sons a chance at least...a chance to woo ye and try to win yer heart." Merida shuddered at the thought.
"This is ridiculous," Merida huffed, "I'll not stand for it!"
"Merida," Elinor replied, "please calm down, and listen to reason."
"Ye can't be serious mother," she exclaimed, "just when I thought I had my freedom to make my own choice! Ye gave me yer word!" Merida looked back and forth between her parents, "ye both did, and now ye plot with the Lords who seek to take it from me."
"Honestly Merida, ye are making a mountain out of a mole hill," Elinor replied, "they merely want their sons to have the chance to win yer love before yer hand."
"Love mother," Merida huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest, "what does any of this have to do with love? They don't care how I feel at all, they just want one of their spoiled whiney sons to be on the throne!"
"Merida," Elinor replied, "we are only asking ye to appease the Lords and allow their sons a chance. We aren't plotting with the Lords; the choice is still yers. We are just asking ye to allow them to court ye. I mean who knows, maybe if ye get to know them better, ye may truly find love with one of them. Ye can't know for sure until ye try."
"Oh, I know alright," Merida huffed.
"Merida," Elinor replied, "I was betrothed before I even knew yer father and I was afraid I'd be stuck for life with a man I did nae love. But yer father and I found love together, and the love we found only grows stronger to this day. Had I not allowed him the chance to prove himself that wouldn't have happened. I mean at the very least ye may learn to love who ye chose as time goes on."
"Oh, I'm certain that will ne'er happen to me," Merida replied firmly, "certainly not with one of them!" Elinor sighed in frustration.
"Merida, I know you want yer freedom," Elinor replied, "but ye can't close yer heart off to love itself forever out of stubborn pride!" Merida could feel tears of frustration building up in her eyes as she glared at her mother.
"It's not about my pride mother," Merida argued, "don't ye understand? This is not what I want mum."
"Merida," Elinor started.
"I...I don't want to learn to love someone, Mum. I want real love," Merida pleaded, "the kind that makes yer heart race, and yer palms sweat. I…I want to find someone who sees me for who I am and loves me just as I am. I want the feeling of butterflies in my gut when he kisses me. I want to feel safe and warm in his arms. A-and when he holds me, I want to feel like I am right where I was always meant to be. I...I want...I want…true love..." Merida blushed slightly when she realized that all the things she had said were about Hiccup. All at once she knew, all she had ever wanted she'd found in Hiccup. Hiccup's words from one of their previous conversations suddenly flashed through her mind.
...
"All I'm trying to say is there is more to life than just being queen. You shouldn't have to choose between leading your people and being happy," Hiccup went on, "and, I mean, so what if the Lords don't approve, I'm sure there would be a way around that, even if you have to fight for it. Isn't love worth fighting for?"
...
She knew in this moment that Hiccup was right. Love was worth fighting for. Hiccup believed that she was worth fighting for. If what was happening between them would amount to anything, she had to be willing to do the same. She could not hold back because of her fear. She had to jump in with two feet, and fight for the love she knew she had found in Hiccup. She was more determined than ever before. She had finally found where she had always belonged and she would be damned if anything or anyone would try to take this away from her. Elinor was taken aback by her daughter's sudden outburst and surprised by her passionate plea.
Unbeknownst to Merida and her parents, Hubert, Harris and Hamish had begun to put two and two together. They glanced at each other curiously as the argument ensued. They couldn't help but to feel for their sister's plight and they could not help but to wonder if the boy she had told them about was in fact the object of her affections.
"Merida I...I'm sorry," Elinor replied, "truly I am." She paused for a long moment. "I promise ye, tis not my intention to take yer choice from ye." She gazed at her daughter in sympathy. She wished she could take this burden from her daughter's shoulders.
"But we still must appease the Lords for now," Elinor said firmly, "we must go through with this. The Lords and their son's will be here in a week's time and we must prepare for their arrival." Merida clenched her fists in anger and hurt as she gazed at her mother. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and her heart felt heavy.
"As I said," Elinor went on, "the choice will still be yers in the end, I promise ye, but in the meantime..."
"In the meantime," Merida huffed, "I'll be forced to play nice with the Lord's sons!"
"Look, Merida," Elinor replied, "I know this is a lot we ask of ye, but tis necessary to appease the Lords. Just think about it okay. We can skip your lessons today if ye'd like, I know ye have a lot to think about." Merida stood silently gazing at the floor as her mother spoke, trying her best to hold the tears back from falling from her eyes. She was worried before about this happening, it was the very reason she had never wanted to let herself fall in love. It was the very reason she guarded her heart as she did. Now just as she had let down her guard, just as she had begun to feel for Hiccup, the Lords were threatening to take her freedom to chose her own path away. The worst part was that her own parents were forcing her to go along with it.
"Merida," Elinor said, "It will all be alright….I promise ye…
"Stop," Merida snapped, "nothing ye say can make this alright!" With that Merida turned and ran quickly from the room. Elinor sighed heavily as she watched her daughter disappear through the dining hall doors. Her heart felt heavy with guilt and frustration. Fergus came up beside her and gently rested his hand upon her shoulder. As Elinor turned to face him, she noticed her sons gazing up at her in worry. Elinor sighed slightly at the sight.
"Ye three may be excused," Elinor said, "go on, I need to speak to yer father." The three boys scampered quickly from the table and ran through the doors of the dining hall.
Elinor once again turned to her husband with a saddened expression on her face.
"Are we doing the right thing Fergus," Elinor questioned.
"We are doing what we must to appease the Lords as ye said," Fergus replied.
"Aye," Elinor replied, "but at what cost to Merida."
Hiccup's camp
"Okay," Fish said, "let's just try to go through this again in order." Hiccup nodded.
"So, Dunbroch and Berk were allies," Fish began to list the facts of the mystery, "the king and the chief were old friends. Dunbroch had a dragon problem and called on Berk to help hunt the dragons. Mairead was betrothed to Callum the third. Mairead and Hiccup the first met and fell in love. They had an affair despite her betrothal. We don't really know that much between the time they fell in love and the time Berk was banished."
"I think there is a pretty good possibility that Callum found out about the affair," Hiccup replied, "and he could have had a role in the banishment."
"Right," Fish replied, "and somewhere in that time frame Hiccup and Mairead also cast a binding spell, we think because they were being separated by the banishment." Hiccup nodded in agreement.
"Then shortly after," Fish continued, "the Vikings left Dunbroch, and were never seen or heard from again. A little after that Berk was allegedly wiped out by dragons, which we know for certain is a lie."
"A lie told by Callum," Hiccup added.
"Right," Fish replied, "but also a lie that your great, great grandfather may have gone along with...possibly to protect Mairead."
"Right, well it seems like a pretty good timeline," Eret replied, "but how exactly does that prophecy of Mairead fit into all of this?"
"Right," Fish replied, "first we have to figure out exactly what it means. So far we know that Adag is haddock, which may refer to a village or Hiccups family, or even Hiccup himself."
"Or all of the above," Hiccup added.
"So basically, we are still stuck in the same place we were before," Eret replied.
"At least until we figure it out or get more clues," Fish replied.
"All the more reason for me to meet Merida's parents," Hiccup replied, "if I can look through the archives, we may find something more."
"And how exactly do you intend to find anything in the archives if all the records of Berk are missing," Eret questioned.
"By not looking for records on Berk at all," Hiccup replied. Eret furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Merida searched the entire history of the time Berk would have been involved with Dunbroch and found nothing, but maybe if we search after we could have more luck. What I really want to look at are the records after Callum married Mairead, after he was King."
"What exactly do you hope to find," Eret questioned.
"I don't know," Hiccup replied, "but at the very least it may show the kind of person he was, maybe even show what he was capable of." Eret nodded.
"You should probably search before too," Fish interceded. Hiccup turned his attention back to Fish with a curious expression.
"In case Eret is right," Fish replied, "that Berk has a longer history with Dunbroch than we thought." Hiccup nodded in agreement.
"Well, for now we should get back to the journals," Hiccup replied, "to see if there is anything we may have missed."
"Right," Fish agreed," I'll look through your grandfather's and you go through Mairead's." Hiccup nodded in agreement. The two immediately immersed themselves in the journals.
"Right," Eret said flatly, "I guess I'll just…tend to the dragon's then."
Dunbroch castle
Elinor entered the study and sighed heavily as she sat in the cushioned chair across from Fergus. Fergus looked from his reading and glanced at her curiously.
"Did ye find her, dear," he asked. Elinor sighed again.
"No, she's already left the castle," Elinor replied, "she must have headed out right after she stormed out o' the dining hall. I don't expect we will see her the rest o' the day." Fergus put his book down and gazed at his wife.
"Try not to worry dear," Fergus replied, "she just needs to blow off some steam is all."
"How can I not worry Fergus," Elinor replied, "you know what happened the last time she ran off like this."
"Aye, I think she's learned her lesson since then dear," Fergus replied.
"I know," she sighed, "but I can't help but worry, she was so upset and…and hurt. She looked at me as if I'd completely betrayed her."
"Come now, dear," he replied, "ye worry about her the most of the lot of them. She will be fine. Ye will see, just give her some time to think is all."
"It's only because I'm preparing her for her duties as queen that I worry so," Elinor replied, "and I know we've come a long way since the bear incident but sometimes it feels like she still keeps me at arms length. Now I've just made it worse with this debacle with the lords."
"Well, maybe it's time to let go a little," Fergus replied, "she's not a wee lass, anymore, she's a lady, practically ready to take the throne." Elinor pondered her husbands words.
"She's strong and determined," Fergus went on, "and she has her own mind. She knows what she wants dear. Maybe it's ye and I that should start to listen." Elinor nodded as she thought heavily on Fergus' words.
"We've prepared her well, Elinor," Fergus went on, "maybe it's time we step back and let her have some control of her life and let her make some of her own decisions. Maybe we should just trust that we taught her well, and that she'll make the right ones. " Elinor sighed heavily as she thought over all Fergus had said.
"I think your right Fergus," Elinor replied.
"I am," Fergus questioned, "Uh I mean, I am...of course I am. " Elinor chuckled.
"The only problem is the Lords will be here within the week," Elinor replied, "fully expecting their sons to court Merida."
"And they shall," Fergus replied, "but I'll not force her to make a choice if it's not what she wants. We just need to explain it better so she fully understands the situation."
"So long as we can get Merida to actually listen to us," Elinor replied. Fergus chuckled.
"Aye," he replied, "just let her cool down. When she returns I'm sure we can sit her down and get her to listen to reason."
"I hope yer right," Elinor replied. She turned and started to walk to the study door but she paused before exiting. She turned back to Fergus with a curious look on her face.
"I do wonder though," Elinor replied.
"What's that, dear," Fergus questioned.
"All that talk about love earlier," Elinor replied, "Merida was so oddly specific...it almost sounded like...like she may be in love already. She has been spending a lot of time away from the castle lately...do you think she's spending time with a boy?"
"Well, if she is," Fergus replied, "let's pray he's not a spoiled cad like the lords sons." Elinor rolled her eyes.
"What," Fergus asked defensively. Elinor shook her head. "I just want Merida to be happy dear," Fergus replied, "I know she won't be happy with any of those spoiled lads."
"I swear it Fergus," Elinor replied, "she takes after ye the most."
"Good," he replied, "then you need not worry. She's strong, smart and she won't back outta a fight."
"Aye, ye forgot stubborn dear," Elinor replied.
"Aye and stubb...hey!" Fergus replied. Elinor chuckled.
Hiccup's camp
Hiccup sat by the fire reading through more of Mairead's journal, though he was finding it extremely hard to concentrate. His mind kept drifting back to Merida and the kiss they shared. All he wanted was to spend more time with her; the fact that it would be hours before he could see her only made him that much more impatient. Despite all his efforts to keep himself occupied; he was completely distracted. He sighed in frustration and tried to focus on his reading once again. After a few more minutes of trying in vain to read. Hiccup closed the book in frustration. He looked up at Eret who was sitting nearby with his back leaned up against the trunk of a tree eating an apple. Eret looked over at Hiccup in concern.
"Everything okay mate," Eret asked. Hiccup sighed in frustration as he stood up and stirred the wood of the fire with a stick.
"I'm fine," Hiccup replied, "just a little anxious I guess." Eret sat forward and gazed up at Hiccup as he took another bite of his apple.
"About what exactly," Eret questioned. Hiccup sighed once more as he ran his fingers through his hair. He tossed the stick into the flames and sat back down upon the log beside it.
"I'm just, I'm having a hard time focusing when all I can think about is…is Merida and how I feel a-and how she feels, or doesn't feel," Hiccup replied, "and the fact that it's still really up in the air with her, if that makes sense." Eret nodded as he listened.
"I mean, I know she cares," Hiccup continued, "it's just a matter of her deciding to take a chance with me or not. I just wish she could have given me some form of an answer. I mean am I being selfish?"
"Look, there is nothing wrong with wanting an answer," Eret replied, "I know you want to give her all the time and space she needs, mate, but where does that leave you?" Hiccup groaned as he thought about it.
"What choice do I have otherwise," Hiccup questioned in frustration, "I understand her hesitance, I really do. I mean I know why she's afraid. How can I be selfish and push her for an answer? I mean, it's bad enough that she has her parents, and the lords putting pressure on her about who she can and can't marry just so she can take the throne. I'm not going to put pressure on her about this too!"
"Look Hic, it's not selfish to want to know where you stand mate," Eret replied. Hiccup sighed again.
"Look at it this way," Eret continued, "when you met Merida, you had a lot of your own issues with love and trust yourself. Because of her you've worked through a lot of them, enough so that you are actually willing to take a chance with her. I mean, you put yourself out there with her mate; shouldn't she be willing to do the same?" Hiccup averted his eyes as he thought over Eret's words. Even though he knew Merida truly cared for him, the fact that she had mostly left him without a definitive or even a partial answer was somewhat disheartening. He was ready and willing to put everything on the line for her. He was willing to fight for her if need be, in the hope that they could be together. But Merida was still holding back. Although he understood her fears, his only wish was that she would trust that he would never hurt her, and trust that he would never stop fighting for her regardless of the situation with her parents or the Lords. As far as he was concerned she was the one he'd been looking for his whole life, and if she were willing to trust him with her heart, he would not let anything or anyone to ever come between them.
Suddenly they were distracted by the distinct sound of hooves striking the ground, and headed in their direction. Hiccup's heart froze at the sound and he anxiously looked up in the direction from which the sound had come. He furrowed his brow in concern.
"Could that be your girl, Hic," Eret questioned teasingly.
"It's too early," Hiccup muttered, "she's not supposed to come til later."
"Well maybe she managed to get out of her duties," Fish suggested as he came up beside the others. Hiccup glanced at Fish briefly then turned his eyes back to the path ahead.
"Or maybe it's one of her brothers," Hiccup responded.
"One of her brothers," Eret questioned.
"Uh, Merida sort of told them about me after they saw her sneaking out the other day to leave my letter," Hiccup replied. Eret turned to Hiccup in concern.
"Seriously," Eret replied, "did you plan on mentioning that some time today?"
"Sorry, I forgot about it until now, " Hiccup replied.
"Well, what do we do," Eret questioned.
"Relax," Hiccup replied, "their just kids, I think we will manage, they probably are just protective of their sister. They probably just want to be sure I'm not a bad person."
"Yeah, but Hic…" Eret began. But Hiccup's attention was stolen by the sight of the massive black horse and tiny rider that came barreling through the trees in their direction. Eret's eyes widened slightly at the sight of her, she was absolutely beautiful and Hiccup's brief description did her little justice.
"Not bad mate," Eret smirked, "you weren't kidding when you said she was beautiful." But Hiccup did not answer Eret. He was focused on Merida, he noticed immediately the look of distress on her face.
"Something is wrong," Hiccup muttered. Eret looked back at him in concern.
Merida brought the horse to a halt a few feet in front of them and Hiccup quickly walked over to meet her. As he approached the horse he looked up at Merida in concern.
"I didn't expect to see you so early today," Hiccup called. "is everything okay?" She looked down at him from Angus with a worried expression upon her face.
"No," she replied simply, "it's not." She quickly dismounted Angus and headed in Hiccup's direction. Without a word she leaned into his arms as tears of frustration filled her eyes. He held her close to him allowing her to take comfort in his arms. It was the first time he'd ever seen her so upset and the sight of her blue eyes filled with tears broke his heart. Hiccup looked up at Eret who stood just behind Merida. He gave him a pleading expression and nodded his head subtly to the left. Eret immediately understood and elbowed Fish.
"What," Fish complained. Eret just gave him an impatient look. Fish furrowed his brow in slight confusion. Eret groaned.
"Let's give them a moment to talk Fish," Eret said impatiently.
"Oh, uh, yeah," Fishlegs nodded in realization. Eret rolled his eyes and pushed him forward. After the two of them backed away, Hiccup turned his attention back to Merida.
"Hey," Hiccup said as he took her face in his hands, "look at me Merida." She turned her tear-filled eyes to him.
"What's going on," he asked. She shook her head as she tried to control her emotions.
"Talk to me Merida," Hiccup said softly.
"It's my mother," Merida replied as she pulled away from him, "she told me the reason for Lord Dingwall's visit before." Hiccup's heart froze in his chest as he anticipated her bad news. Merida began to pace in front of him while trying her best to hold back the tears that threatened to fall from her blue eyes.
"It seems the lords still want me to choose one of their sons to wed, even though the choice is mine to make," Merida explained, "apparently, I'm only free to make my own choice if that choice is one of them!" Hiccup's heart sank as he pondered her words.
"But your parents promised you that you could choose for yourself," Hiccup replied, "in your own time."
"Aye," Merida replied, "my parents gave me my freedom, but it seems the Lords never intended to do so. According to my mother the Lords have little trust in my judgement. This is their way to ensure a Scotsman who they deem worthy of the crown remain on the throne." Hiccup fell silent as he thought over their predicament.
"My mother says she'll stand by my choice, whatever it be," Merida went on, "but she's still forcing me to go along with this whole bloody mess! She thinks I'm being stubborn, that I'm purposely closing my heart out of pride. She insists that I could find love with one of the suitors if I just give them a chance to win my heart." Merida continued to pace as she spoke.
"Merida..."
"This isn't about love at all! Why can't she understand that? They dinnae care how I feel', "Merida continued to rant, her face reddened in frustration, "none o' those spoiled whining sel rite oot wee lads care aboot me, they dinnae want mah heart, they want mah throne!"
"Merida..."
"They can't do this to me, they can't make me," Merida yelled, "my heart is mine to give. Tis my heart, tis my choice! I cannae just give it away when I've already made my choice!"
"Made your choice," Hiccup questioned, "Merida...what are you saying?"
She paused and gazed up at him with sorrow-filled eyes. As she gazed at him, she was suddenly overcome with her emotions. The tears she had been desperately holding back began to involuntarily spill from her eyes. Hiccup's heart nearly broke at the sight, he quickly pulled her into his arms and held her close. She lay her head on his chest simply allowing him to comfort her. Hiccup gently ran his fingers through her long tangled curls, trying his best to calm her.
"I swear...I'll not let this happen," she sobbed.
"Hey...hey," Hiccup whispered soothingly, "it's okay, we'll figure this out...I promise." Merida continued to sob into his chest.
"What if we can't," Merida lamented," what if there is no way out of this...what if..."
"Don't worry," he soothed, "this doesn't change any thing, okay. I promise I'm not going anywhere." Merida nodded her head against his chest as her tears subsided. Hiccup gently lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. He smiled softly. As he gazed at her, he gently wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb.
"I told you," he said reassuringly, "I'm in this, no matter what, and nothing is going to change that." Merida nodded. Without thinking he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead gently. He pulled back slowly gazing deeply into her eyes, feeling more determined than ever to confess all his feelings to her."
"Merida," he said softly, "I...I think..." He took a deep breath before continuing, "I mean, I told you I had feelings for you, but I…I feel like...I..."As he gazed into her piercing sky-blue eyes, he became extremely nervous. His heart was racing and his mouth felt suddenly dry. Despite his sudden nervousness, he pressed on.
"Okay look, I...I know this all may seem sudden a-and crazy a-and unexpected; a-and you don't have to say anything back, I swear, but I think," he sighed heavily before continuing, "I think I know what my feelings for you are. I just...I didn't want to say it yet because I wasn't sure how you'd take it, a-and maybe I was also a little afraid. But now with what's happening with the Lords and these suitors, I...I just feel like I need to tell you. I mean I just want to know where we stand too. But mostly I just want you to know how I really feel about you, I mean us, I mean, assuming there is an us." Merida's heart seemed to freeze mid beat as she anxiously anticipated his words.
"What is it," Merida questioned as she gazed up at him nervously. Hiccup closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to muster up his courage to continue. He took a deep breath as he tried to find the right words. As he opened his eyes and looked back into her beautiful eyes once more, his thoughts became suddenly clear. He simply couldn't deny it anymore.
"I...I need you to know that I...I think," he gulped slightly before continuing, "what I mean is I, uh, I'm fairly certain that I'm falling in love with you, or…or I am already...I think...I..." He was unexpectedly interrupted by Merida's lips crashing against his own. Hiccup was surprised at first and it took a few moments before what she had done registered in his mind. He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned into the kiss. He could feel his heart racing, as he was overcome by a feeling like lighting in his veins when he held her close against him. She pulled away slowly and gazed up at him. Her cheeks were flushed pink and her face displayed a look of amazement. He wondered if she had felt the same thing he had. He gazed back into her blue eyes but kept his arms tight around her waist. He smiled slightly as he reached up to brush the red curls from her face.
"I…I think I love ye too Hiccup," she said softly. Hiccup's heart nearly leapt from his chest with her words. He gazed into her sky-blue eyes as he leaned his forehead against hers.
"You do," he questioned in surprise. Merida nodded.
"Really?"
"Aye," Merida nodded again as she gazed up at him.
"B-but yesterday," Hiccup began, "y-you didn't...I...I mean when I kissed you...you pulled away. I...I thought..."
"I told ye, I was afraid," Merida replied emotionally. Merida pulled away from him and began to pace as she tried to explain. "I mean, I only just met ye, I was having feelings for ye that I...I didn't understand. I...I mean I've never been in love before, so I didn't know what I was feeling. But every time ye look at me my heart races and it feels like there are a thousand butterflies in my gut and I get so nervous I can't think straight, but I thought it couldn't be love. I-I tried to ignore it, and I tried not to think about it but then ye kissed me yesterday and that just turned everything on it's head! I didn't expect ye to kiss me, and when ye did, it...it felt like lighting struck my heart," she said as she laid her hand over her heart. Hiccup smiled slightly as she described her feelings that were nearly identical to his own.
"When ye kissed me I just couldn't ignore the feelings anymore," Merida continued, "and then ye told me how ye felt and I couldn't believe ye were saying such things to me. The way ye spoke, every word ye said...ye felt like I did. But everything was happening so fast...I-I was afraid and I just didn't know what to do or say," she paused as she gazed up at him, "but I know how I feel." Hiccup smiled warmly in her direction, his heart nearly bursting as she spoke.
"This morning when my mother told me about the suitors," Merida dropped her eyes slightly from his, "all I could think about was ye and how ye make me feel. All I could think about was that everything I ever wanted…I found in ye Hiccup." She paused a moment as she looked up at him, gazing deep into his forest green eyes, eyes so similar to the ones that had plagued her dreams.
"When my mother said I could learn to love one of the suitors if I tried. I...I just knew it wasn't possible," Merida went on, "I knew I could never learn to love another… because I…I already love ye Hiccup. My heart already made my choice for me."
Hiccup reached out and took her hand gently in his. He leaned closer to her and smiled at her lovingly.
"I felt the same way," Hiccup replied, "I kept trying to tell myself, I was crazy, that I couldn't possibly be feeling what I was feeling...about a girl I only just met." He took a deep breath before continuing.
"Love was the last thing I ever expected to find here," Hiccup replied, "but then I met you and I…I was just...I was drawn to you like a magnet. I...I tried to rationalize it, I told myself it was only because you looked so much like the picture in the journal. Or because you remind me so much of the woman in my dream. I tried to tell myself I was just infatuated with you. But the more I get to know you, the stronger my feelings become." He paused a moment to sort his thoughts.
"Before yesterday, I..." Hiccup went on, "I had already begun to realize what I was feeling for you, I even tried to tell you that night on your balcony before your mom interrupted." Merida smiled up at him.
"I knew it was something important," she replied, "why didn't you tell me when I asked what you were going to say yesterday?"
"I don't know," Hiccup stammered, "I…I was nervous, you put me on the spot. I was trying to ease into the subject yesterday a-and when you just asked me straight out I…I froze!"
"All this time I kept questioning myself," Merida replied, "I thought it was all in my head, I thought ye only saw me as a friend." Hiccup smiled at her warmly.
"I literally thought the same thing about you," Hiccup replied, "that's why I was so nervous to tell you from the start." He reached up and gently tucked the unruly curls behind her ear as he gazed at her.
"But then yesterday, when you said what you said about how you felt when I looked at you; I mean, when I thought there could be even a small chance that you could possibly feel like I do, I...I just I couldn't fight it anymore. I love you Merida, and all I want is to just be with you. I've wanted to kiss you since the moment Toothless knocked you into my arms that first day," he chuckled lightly. Merida smiled up at him warmly at his admission.
"And then in the glen I...I just couldn't hold back anymore. When I kissed you it was like all my confusion about you and how I feel was just gone. I knew it that instant, somehow, you and I are meant to be. There is no question in my mind, you are the one I was always meant to find." Merida just gazed up at him with tear filled eyes.
"You are amazing Merida," he said softly, "and beautiful inside and out, and...you're everything I've always wanted." She smiled as a blush crept over her cheeks. Hiccup leaned forward once again pressing his lips softly to hers. She could feel his arms gently wrap around her as he deepened the kiss. This time his kiss was filled with all the passion and longing he'd been feeling since the day they met. She snaked her arms around his neck and gently ran her fingers through his messy hair.
The way Hiccup felt with her in his arms was indescribable; It was unlike anything he'd ever felt before and yet it felt like he'd finally found his way home after years of wandering. His heart was bursting, and every fiber of his being longed only to be closer to her. He pulled her closer to him griping the fabric of the back of her dress tightly in his fingers and kissed her more hungrily causing her to moan slightly. He pulled away reluctantly when the need for air overtook him and he smiled against her lips.
"My heart is yours Merida," Hiccup whispered. "and always will be." He gently caressed her face as he gazed deeply into her eyes, "I will wait forever if you'd be mine." As Merida gazed back into his intense green eyes, his words struck her suddenly. Her mind instantly flashed back to the Viking from her dream.
...
Mairead," he said, "my heart is your's and always will be." Slowly he raised his other hand and gently touched the side of her face brushing the unruly curls behind her ear. He continued to gaze at her with an intense longing emanating from his deep green eyes. He slowly leaned forward keeping his eyes locked with hers.
"I will wait forever if you'd be mine," he said.
...
She gazed up at Hiccup in sudden realization.
"It's ye," she said in disbelief. Hiccup looked at her in confusion.
"It's ye," Merida repeated in amazement and surprise, "in my dream...the Viking in my dream. I..I thought it was yer great great grandfather calling to my great great nana, but somehow...it's ye!" Hiccup gazed at her in surprise and confusion.
"Don't you see," Merida exclaimed, "Yer green eyes, the way ye look at me, the words ye just said...it…it's all the same!" She laid her hand gently upon his face and gazed deep into his eyes. "Hiccup...it's ye," she said softly, "It's always been ye! It's been ye all this time! How did I not see it before?" As Hiccup pondered her revelation, his mind flashed suddenly to his own dream.
...
The woman lifted one of her hands and placed it gently upon his cheek, causing his breath to catch in his throat.
"It's you," she whispered, "it's always been you, it's been you all this time."
...
"That's what she meant," he said in surprise, "she…she said what you said." They gazed at each other for a long moment in shock and amazement.
Hiccup thought back to the moment he and Merida met, her uncanny resemblance to her great nana, the familiar feeling he couldn't explain, the feelings that struck him when he first kissed her were the same as when the woman in the dream touched his hand. He thought about the similar feelings he had for both Mairead and Merida that he could not explain and her blue eyes that looked so much like Mairead's. Could the woman from his dream have been Merida all this time? Had everything been leading them to find…each other?
"How is this possible," Hiccup questioned.
"I don't know," Merida replied, "but maybe it has to do with the spell." Hiccup furrowed his brow as he thought over her statement. He was fairly certain that the spell their grandparents had cast might be responsible for each of their recurring dreams, or even perhaps it was the reason he had felt so drawn to Dunbroch from the start. He had even long suspected that the feelings he felt in his dreams for Mairead were somehow influenced by his grandfather, but could it also be the reason he was so drawn to Merida? Was the fact that they had each separately dreamed this shared moment weeks before they ever met proof that somehow magic from a nearly three hundred year old spell had brought them together. And if so, what exactly did that mean for he and Merida? We're they simply drawn together because the souls of their grandparents had manipulated their feelings? Hiccup shook his head at the thought; he absolutely refused to believe that the way he felt for Merida was in any way influenced by their grandparents' spell. He refused to even consider the idea that his love for her was not of his own free will.
"No," Hiccup replied firmly as he gazed at her, "I don't believe that! My feelings for you are real, and they're mine; they're not just a-a side affect of some spell."
"I'm not sayin' our feelings aren't real Hiccup," Merida replied, "but think about it, I mean, something drew ye to Dunbroch in the first place." Hiccup dropped his eyes to the ground and shook his head in denial as she spoke.
"Ever since the moment we discovered our grandparents mystery, we have talked about the spell being the reason for everything that led ye here, including the dreams that have plagued us," Merida continued, "if it was by fate that we met, but it was magic that led ye, then who's to say that fate and magic aren't one in the same? It's possible our fate has been intertwined from the start because of the spell but that doesn't make how we feel any less real."
Hiccup furrowed his brow in contemplation as he thought over all she had said. He couldn't deny the possible role the spell had played in their meeting, nor could he explain their seemingly prophetic dreams; but he was certain that no explanation could change how he felt for Merida. He loved her truly and deeply and as far as he was concerned that would never change. Perhaps how they had come to be, whether it be by fate or by magic was of little importance. The only thing that mattered to him was that they were together now. Hiccup turned his eyes back to her and gazed at her with such intensity and longing that it made Merida shiver slightly and she couldn't help but to be reminded of the Viking in her dream. She stepped closer to him as she reached up and gently lay her hand upon his stubbled cheek. She gazed up at him lovingly causing Hiccup's heart to race.
"We dreamed of each other before we even met Hiccup," Merida continued, "how else can ye explain that?"
"I…I don't know," Hiccup answered as he gazed back at her, "I…I mean, I can't explain it, but I know how I feel Merida." He pulled her closer to him and leaned his forehead against hers as he gazed into her pale blue eyes. "I don't love you because of some spell," he said softly, "I love you for who you are." Without a word Merida leaned forward and kissed him softly upon the cheek. She pulled away slightly and smiled up at him warmly.
"I love ye for who ye are as well," she replied softly. Hiccup smiled back at her with pure love in his deep green eyes. He leaned forward slowly and captured her lips once more in a sweetly passionate kiss. For a moment all the questions and all the obstacles faded to the background and it was only Hiccup and Merida and the blossoming love between them. As Hiccup pulled away from her slightly he couldn't help but to smile. Finally he knew where he stood, and he knew where he was always meant to be. Inadvertently his mother's previous words suddenly flashed through his mind.
...
"Stoick told me that someday when we had a son, he would pass it on to him as well when the time came." She carefully lifted the chain over her head, she then handed the pendent over to Hiccup.
"Maybe that time is now," Valka smiled with tear filled eyes." Hiccup held the pendent carefully in his hands gazing at it intensely. He was unable to fathom this tangible evidence of his dream.
"But I don't love anyone," Hiccup said solemnly.
"Not yet," Valka replied, "but maybe this dream of yours signifies the start of your journey. Maybe it's time to start looking for whoever it is you're meant to be with; your soul mate."
...
Hiccup chuckled slightly under his breath as the memory ran through his mind. Merida smiled up at him curiously.
"What is it," she asked. Hiccup continued to smile as he shook his head.
"It's just…what my mother said before I left Berk," Hiccup replied, "after the hard time I gave her about it all; turns out she was right about everything."
"Why Hiccup, ye wouldn't be going on about all that talk of yer dreams bein' a sign to find yer true love now are ye," Merida questioned haughtily. Hiccup chuckled in spite of himself.
"As a matter of fact," Hiccup smiled as he leaned slightly closer to her, "that's exactly what I'm going on about."
"Is that so," Merida replied as she took a slight step back teasingly, "and here I thought ye didn't believe in such things as true love, or soulmates." Hiccup smirked at her haughty response.
"What," Hiccup scoffed, "of course, I believe in true love." Merida crossed her arms over her chest and smirked up at him.
"I mean, I...I may have, ya know, lost my faith in it just a little," Hiccup reiterated, "but then I met this amazing girl."
"Oh, ye did, did ye," Merida questioned in amusement. Hiccup smiled as he reached for her arm and gently pulled her back to him.
"She challenged nearly every excuse I tried to make," Hiccup continued, "she told me like it is, often and without holding back...whether I liked it or not. I mean, she was downright pushy at times." Merida rolled her eyes at his comment as she pulled away from him in slight annoyance. Hiccup smirked at her reaction.
"And when I say pushy," Hiccup went on, "I mean, not like a little pushy... like really pushy, I mean, she has to be one of the pushiest people I've ever met. Like on a scale of one to ten...she has to be like, oh, I don't know an eleven maybe...or maybe a twelve even." Merida turned back and glared at him.
"No, no, I apologize, I'm exaggerating a bit," Hiccup went on, "she's not a twelve, I mean she's close though...I'm gonna say more like an eleven and a half."
"Hiccup," Merida cried out indignantly as she slapped him on the bicep.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," Hiccup chuckled, "well about the pushy part anyway...sort of." Merida rolled her eyes and groaned. He sighed in contentment as he gazed at her.
"Okay seriously though," Hiccup replied as he reached out and took both her hands in his. He leaned forward and gazed at her lovingly causing Merida to blush slightly. "You renewed my faith, Merida. You convinced me to open my heart and take a real chance again. You are all I want, and all I need." He brought his hand to her face and gently rested it upon her cheek as he gazed deep into her blue eyes. Merida held her breath as she gazed back at him.
"Yer all I've ever wanted," she replied with genuine emotion in her voice, "ye see me, the real me, and ye love me regardless of all my flaws and all my difficulties...no one has ever taken the time to know me like ye have." Hiccup grinned at her answer.
"It's not hard," Hiccup replied, "to see the kind of person you are in here Merida." He gently pointed to her heart. Merida smiled warmly up at him as he repeated the very words that she'd said to him not so long ago.
"I certainly don't have to look very hard to see how amazing you are," Hiccup went on, "or how much you mean to me." He leaned forward once more pressing his lips firmly to hers. As the two slowly began to lose themselves in yet another passionate kiss they were suddenly distracted by the distinct sound of murmuring coming from only a few feet away. They simultaneously turned toward the sound only to be greeted by the familiar blue glow of a will o' the wisp.
"A wisp," they whispered in unison as they gazed at the glowing orb in surprise. Merida and Hiccup turned back to each other and smiled. Hiccup held his hand out in front of her invitingly.
"We should follow it," Hiccup urged. Merida smiled as she slipped her hand in his.
"Aye," Merida replied enthusiastically, "let's go."